This style bible is a chic and sexy look at the myriad possibilities of blue jeans, the classic and ever-evolving fashion essential. Blue jeans are an iconic part of American culture. And, like the American dream, denim is constantly reinventing itself. A Denim Story showcases timeless images of blue jean style. Featuring such icons as Marilyn Monroe, Patti Smith, Jane Birkin, and Kate Moss, as well as dreamy inspiration boards from the authors' own work, this volume is full of ideas and inspirations. A pair of jeans always makes a statement, whether they are tight and purposeful or loose and frayed. Blue jeans can embody dreamy, girlish innocence or the best of boyishness, as when worn two sizes too big, low on the hips, and rolled up at the ankle. A Denim Story takes us on a journey through the most stylish looks of Americana culture, from the cutoffs and rolled-up cuffs of carefree summertime days to the simple ruggedness of overalls in the countryside, and from the rebelliously ripped jeans of rock 'n' roll to that beloved pair of faded and patched blue jeans we will never throw away. Denim is the material of independence and self-expression, timelessly cool, boasting an authenticity and function that transcend trends and is always sexy. Exquisitely curated by Current, Elliott, and Walsh, A Denim Story is a visual love song to blue jeans, sure to seduce everyone who picks it up.

“A fascinating chronicle of the $55-billion-a-year global denim industry.” —David Futrelle, Los Angeles Times Rachel Louise Snyder reports from the far reaches of the multi-billion-dollar denim industry in search of the people who make your clothes. From a cotton picker in Azerbaijan to a Cambodian seamstress, a denim maker in Italy to a fashion designer in New York, Snyder captures the human, environmental, and political forces at work in a complex and often absurd world. Neither polemic nor prescription, Fugitive Denim captures what it means to work in the twenty-first century.

In a country that has always prided itself on its toughness, individuality, and youthful spirit, we share one common thread, woven through time and unchanged in popularity -- durable cotton denim jeans. Journey through the history of jeans, from their invention during the Gold Rush through the turbulent eras that preceeded the 21st Century. Watch as denim slacks help Americans define themselves, whether that definition is strong, unpretentious, pretentious, informal, comfortable, classless, haute couture, hard-working, or reliable. Also, revisit the craze for vintage blue jeans, when faded and worn fueled a frenzy of global buying. Artful photography of denim as seen on bodies, in retail stores, and in the flea markets of America, add to the thoughful essays, making this a iconic book certain to be treasured in fashion circles for decades.

Retells, in tall-tale fashion, how Levi Strauss went to California during the Gold Rush, saw the need for a sturdier kind of trouser, and invented jeans.

The story of denim is a tale rich in paradox. Cherished alike by cowboys and models, the fabric is at once a symbol of the counterculture and the raw material of a major industry. A simple fabric, dating back to 17th-century France, denim today is ubiquitous: Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood have pushed it into the forefront of high fashion; and Calvin Klein and Giorgio Armani have made it the basis for billion-dollar brands. This homage to the much-loved fabric delves deep into the archives to trace the origins and development of denim. It features rare pictures ofnbsp;icons wearing denim, like Marilyn Monroe and Steve McQueen, plus specially commissioned photos of rare and classic garments from the 1880s to the present day. It is complete with a glossary and a guide to valuable vintage items.

Denim Dudes is a street style book with a difference. As well as featuring key players in the global denim business, such as Jason Denham (Denham), François Girbaud, (Marithé + François Girbaud), Adriano Goldschmied (Diesel, 7 For All Mankind) and Kenichi and Kenji Shiotani (Warehouse Japan), it also explores the very best and latest denim styling on the street, from bikers to vintage dealers and store owners. Exclusive photography for the book was shot in Paris, Tokyo, London, New York, LA, Milan, San Francisco, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Barcelona, Melbourne, Gothenburg, and Sydney. This inspirational title will appeal not just to designers and fashion professionals but to a public increasingly obsessed with the world of denim. It offers unrivalled insight into the stylish and sometimes eccentric "dudes" involved in this fascinating and diverse industry.

The story of denim's rise from modest workpants to high-fashion statement. Ever since Levi Strauss made the first blue jean pants in California in the 1870s, everyone has wanted a pair. No one imagined America's love of denim would travel around the world, yet jeans remain an essential part of our lives. The Blue Jean Book chronicles this love affair. Researchers suggest we're happiest when we're in our jeans. They express our personalities: compare the person who wears the latest designer label to someone who prefers the thrift store variety. The Blue Jean Book takes you deep into the world of denim. Chapters include: The Birth of the Blues: 1870 to 1900 -- Levi Strauss and the origin of jeans Movers and Shakers: 1900 to 1940 -- From workpants to play pants Blue Jean Time Machine: 1940 to 1970 -- From WWII wear to the trademark of teen rebellion The Jean Scene: 1980s -- Jeans go designer Borderless Blues: 1990s -- The politics of pants: sweatshops, ecological impacts Panting for Perfection -- 21st century jeans From their origins with hardscrabble miners and cowboys, to their popularity among laborers, rebels, and the incurably hip, The Blue Jean Book is the perfect fit for anyone who wants to know the story behind the seams.